After Morocco defeated Spain on penalties in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup, the Atlas lions became the first African Nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals beating Portugal 1-0.
France topped England 2-1 and will proceed to the semi-finals on December 14 where they will face Morocco. Wintop keeps you up to date with the tournament!
Morocco knock Portugal out of FIFA World Cup
Despite the odds stacked against Morocco, they proved today that their progression in the group stages was totally legitimate.
Morocco’s incredible World Cup run has reached new heights after the Atlas Lions defeated Portugal 1-0 to go to the tournament’s semifinal round as the first African nation ever.
Coach Walid Regragui’s team’s resolute defensive performance on Saturday was remarkable, as they have now played more than seven hours of football without conceding to an opposition player.
Youssef En Nesyri’s soaring header in the 42nd minute was the game-winner for the side.
Their unexpected win, which triggered an outpouring of jubilation among the tens of thousands of Moroccan fans crammed inside the Al Thumama Stadium, was unaffected even by Walid Cheddira’s red card in the third minute of extra time.
Ronaldo entered the game in the 51st minute to loud jeers from the crowd, but he gave Portugal new life after Goncalo Ramos, who scored three goals in their 6-1 victory over Switzerland in the previous round, missed a close-range header in the 58th.
Ronaldo was seen leaving the pitch very emotional. It was more certainly his last appearance in a World Cup. Many didn’t understand the strategy of Goncalo Ramos which didn’t include the star players in the first half of the game.
France Beat England 2-1
Olivier Giroud’s close-range header and Harry Kane’s missed penalty sent France into the 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinals at England’s cost.
Six minutes from the end, after the Tottenham forward had tied Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 goals for England by bringing his team level in the second half, Kane blasted a penalty attempt over the crossbar to keep England from tying the score once more.
In the 17th minute, Aurelien Tchouameni gave France the lead with a 25-yard strike that dipped beyond Jordan Pickford’s dive.
In the 78th minute, Olivier Giroud gave France the lead by heading the ball off Harry Maguire’s shoulder and into the goal.
Hugo Lloris, who earned a record 143rd cap for his country’s senior men’s squad, helped France, who made the most of the early advantage.
The 2018 semifinalist England will no longer compete despite a commendable overall effort after suffering their first defeat in Qatar. France will return to the same location to face Morocco in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Argentina or Croatia, who play on Tuesday, will face France or Morocco in the championship game on December 18.
US sports reporter dies after collapsing
In Qatar, prominent American journalist Grant Wahl died after collapsing while covering the World Cup, causing shock and grief across the sports world.
A witness told journalists that he “collapsed” while covering Friday’s Argentina-Netherlands match.
The Qatar World Cup organizers claim that Wahl “felt sick” in the press area and received “immediate medical assistance on site.”
He was then taken to Hamad General Hospital, according to a spokesman of the Supreme Court Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the group in charge of planning the competition.
The journalist, who had covered his seventh World Cup starting with the American edition in 1994, received a lot of praise.
“His love for football was great and his reporting will be missed by everyone who follows the worldwide game,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
US Soccer remarked, “We are heartbroken that Grant, and his amazing writing, will no longer be with us. Grant made playing soccer his career.
